Property

The government has raised P1 billion from the sale of state-owned condominium units and parking slots in Makati, giving a fresh boost to its privatization program as it looks to unlock more value from idle assets and generate additional non-tax revenues.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. has expanded its business in Xiamen, China, launching its first hotel in the country last month. The 325-room Voco Xiamen SM City connects directly to SM Xiamen, the group’s first property in China opened 25 years ago. Worth about 450 million yuan or P4 billion, it sits near a metro station and is close to Xiamen’s airport and railway station. SM Prime president Jeffrey C. Lim said the project turns the complex into a full lifestyle destination, taking advantage of China’s growing tourism market and new government support policies. Xiamen is also the hometown of SM group founder Henry Sy Sr.

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) has completed its acquisition of Genting Hong Kong Ltd.'s remaining stake in Newport World Resorts, ending a 17-year partnership that pioneered the Philippines' integrated resort industry and giving the conglomerate full control of one of its flagship gaming and tourism assets.

The government is stepping up its push to capture a larger share of the lucrative meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market, injecting an additional P140 million into the expansion of the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) to strengthen the country's business tourism infrastructure.

The Department of Finance (DOF) sought to dispel concerns over the newly enacted Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), saying the measure does not automatically raise property taxes and instead gives local governments wide latitude to cushion any impact on taxpayers.